Celebrations of Your Community or Country

Celebrations and commemorations have been integrated into all human societies for thousands of years.

They are part of all people's personal and cultural identity.

They can be an annual event, they can be every 1000 years.

They can involve just friends and family or one nation or many nations.

They allow the expression of the full range of emotions, from deep sorrow to great happiness.

Ideas for the Classroom:

• What days do we celebrate as individuals, eg birthdays. In groups students list ways a birthday is celebrated, eg cake, presents, card. Children say birthdates going through the year month by month. http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/linkages/IntegratedUnits/TeacherLibrarians/librarians_celebrate.html

• Brainstorm family celebrations, eg Weddings, Christmas, Easter, Religious occasions, Christenings, Funerals, Anniversaries. http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/linkages/IntegratedUnits/TeacherLibrarians/librarians_celebrate.html
• Why do communities celebrate?
• Study the cultural celebrations in your community.
• Things to think about:
  
  • Where or why it originated?
  • When it is celebrated and / or commemorated?
  • The kinds of things people do at the celebration or commemoration?
  • Any values or beliefs that are important about thecelebration or commemoration?
  • Who is involved in the particular celebration or commemoration?
  • What feelings do the students have about the celebration or commemoration?
  • http://www.abc.net.au/civics/celebrations/default.htm

Resources:

• How & Why do People Celebrate?
• Unit of Inquiry
• Celebrations
• Food and Celebrations
• Holidays
• Celebrations and Commerations